Population of South Africa

As of August 2026, the population of South Africa is 65.5 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 690 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 1.09%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 25.7 years in 2016 to 28.9 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 66.7 years and population density is 53.6 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of South Africa peaked in 1983, reaching around 3.5% annually, but has since declined to approximately 1.05% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 1.31 million in 2015 to nearly 689.87 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In South Africa, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 54.2 years in 2006 to 66.7 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 12 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in South Africa

South Africa has multiple large cities with a significant number of inhabitants. The most populous city is Johannesburg, Gauteng, with approximately 9.4 million inhabitants. It is followed by Cape Town, Western Cape with 4.8 million and Durban, KwaZulu-Natal with 3.3 million.

These are the 20 most populous cities in South Africa: